The Crowning of the Virgin, 1460

Complete triptych - oil on wood.

Detail of the weighing of the souls.

This painting is in the Hotel-Dieu in the town of Carpentras in the Vacluse region of Provence, France. This painting is on wood - from 1460 - and sits beside the altar in the Hotel-Dieu. This was originally housed in the cathedral of Saint-Siffrein, and saved from destruction during the French Revolution. The painter is unknown but could be Pierre Parrocel or Nicolas Mignard . "This painting depicts the crowing of the Virgin, St. Siffrein delivering a woman possessed, and St. Michael weighing souls." (Helena Attlee)

Provencal Quilt (Whoops!!! This post is supposed to be in the Musings by Artslice)

Crimson quilt from Quilts of Provence *

A stuffed white wedding quilt from - Quilts of Provence *

Lovely blue quilt from Quilts of Provence *

My Provencal quilt

Detail. (I added the sunflowers as an afterthought... the black squares were like 'black holes', I like the results!)

Here is a quilt I made while living in Portland, OR. going to art school. I needed an outlet to relieve stress (constant critiques -many a bit cruel- can kill a person!!!). Hand sewing and cutting fabric was the answer. Plus, there is always a pleasure in doing something you 'shouldn't be doing' because you have so many other things you have to do. While in art school, I made 4 queen size quilts without a sewing machine or rotary cutter. Good therapy but for the cost of fabric!

This quilt was inspired by a trip to Provence, when we returned these French patterns were wildly popular. I got most of it from a wonderful shop in Lake Oswego, OR - The Pine Needle and some from the Mill End store.

Last summer, my Mom and I made several quilts together and she helped me find a local machine quilter to quilt my unfinished 'art school quilts'. It was so emotional getting those quilts back, seeing them completed.... kind of like a 'full circle moment'. Mushy, huh? :)

**From the book, Quilts of Provence, the Art and Craft of French Quiltmaking by Kathryn Berenson. (1996, Henry Holt)